Tuesday, January 11, 2011

BASILAN, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 11, 2011) – Unidentified gunmen shot and killed five merchants in an attack in the troubled province of Basilan in the southern Philippines, officials said Tuesday.

Officials said one man had survived the attack, but is critically wounded. The six men were selling pillows and bed cushions when gunmen attacked them on a village in the town of Mohammad Adjul, said Basilan deputy governor Al Rasheed Sakalahul.

“This is terrible. Five merchants were killed in this senseless attack. We are doing everything to identify the killers and the police are investigating this case,” Sakalahul said, adding the gunmen held up the victims before killing them.

No individual or group claimed responsibility for the killings, but Abu Sayyaf rebels are actively operating in the province and have been largely blamed for the spate of terrorism and killings in Basilan. (Mindanao Examiner)